It is worth breastfeeding your baby even for a week as your breasts produce colostrum for the first 3 or 4 days. This thick yellow fluid is high in proteins in the form of antibodies which help protect your baby against infection before her immune system can start functioning properly.

Do not worry that your baby will starve before your milk comes in as colostrums will provide for all her needs and is also important because it helps the passage of the meconium (first stool) through your baby’s gut. This will change colour from dark brown to green to yellow and have ‘mustard seed’ appearance by the third to fourth day. Breastfed babies’ stools will remain like this until weaning begins and must not be confused with diarrhoea.

Mature milk generally comes in on the third or fourth day. Unlike formula milk, the type of milk that you produce changes during a feed.
The first part of the feed is watery and quenches your baby’s thirst. This is sometimes referred to as ‘foremilk’.

The second part of the feed is more creamy and higher in calories. This satisfies your baby’s need for calories and is sometimes referred to as ‘hind milk’.